Reflections

Wow, a lot has happened in the past few weeks, and I need to gather my thoughts a little. I became an uncle over this Christmas break. My niece, Allie, was born on December 23. She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was given a clean bill of health. People ask how does it feel to be an uncle, and you really don't have a good answer to give them. I don't feel any more special because I'm now an uncle, but I do feel a deep connection with the baby. She's cute, she's funny to watch, and she's got both my sister's and brother-in-law's looks. I guess the most exciting part of the experience is not knowing what Allie will become while knowing that I get to watch Allie discover that for herself. I can honestly say one thing though, holding her for the first time made me feel a little old. I felt a deep sense of joy, but I still felt a little old. After all, I'll be 38 when she graduates high school. :( I go back to college tomorrow, and I'm going to miss my favorite niece.

I'm going to miss my whole family. My dad is creating a video for my great aunt an uncle's 60th wedding anniversary at the request of their daughter. (that was a little convoluted) It's just a slide show set to music, but it's amazing to look at photos taken over a 60 year period, especially when they record the lives of two people and their family. That's beside the point however. My dad and I have been looking for songs to go with this video, and one of the songs that we listened to was called Grandpa by The Judds.

Grandpa lyrics

Grandpa
Tell me 'bout the good old days.
Sometimes it feels like
This world's gone crazy.
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday,
Where the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy.

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
Stand beside each other come what may
was a promise really something people kept,
Not just something they would say
Did families really bow their heads to pray
daddies really never go away
Whoa oh Grandpa,
Tell me 'bout the good old days.

musical interlude

Grandpa
Everything is changing fast.
We call it progress,
But I just don't know.
And Grandpa, let's wonder back into the past,
And paint me a picture of long ago.

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
Stand beside each other come what may
Was a promise really something people kept,
Not just something they would say and then forget
Did families really bow their heads to pray
daddies really never go away
Whoa oh Grandpa,
Tell me 'bout the good ole days.

Whoa oh Grandpa,
Tell me 'bout the good ole days.

Musical interlude
Humming

	The Judds - Grandpa
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Yes it's country, and I normally detest the mention of a country song. I make an exception with this one because it's lyrics just really made me realize how much I care for my family. It's sung from the perspective of a small child asking her grandpa to tell her about the good ole days, which were characterized by family closeness while commenting on the collapse of the family in modern times. It makes me realize just how special my family is because we're very close while most people aren't close to their family. I'm thankful that I have my family. I don't know what I would do without them.

While I was packing today, I ran across some of my possessions that I haven't seen for a long time. It made me think about all of the good times that my family and I had together. With Allie, I look forward to having many more.